Ask Jess–Fun Facts, More about my family, and how we split our finances as a couple

Favorite 90’s Nickelodeon show?

Haha! This one is so fun! Definitely All That. Old school Amanda Bynes was the best in “Ask Ashley”, and nothing could make me laugh harder than Laurie Beth Denberg’s SHHH THIS IS A LIBRARY!!! skit. (Where is she now!?)

Do you have a least favorite food/food you just can’t stand?

Sadly I really hate seafood and fish. I try to like it SO HARD and it honestly is one of the qualities I’m most embarrassed about. It’s really annoying to always be the person who orders chicken terriyaki at sushi restaurants or orders chicken fingers off the kids menu on vacation at an Oyster bar. What’s crazy is that I loved it as a child, but then my parents had a Lobster Boil party on Christmas Eve one year in our house and it smelled SO. AWFUL. I lost my appetite for all seafood and have hated it since. (So strange.)

I know you’re an aunt–how many nephews/nieces do you have? Being an aunt is the best and I always love hearing more about your family!

How cute is this photo Kelly snapped of all of us at our wedding!?

Fun fact: I’ve been an aunt since I was 14! My sister, Alissa, and I are 10 years apart and she has four kiddos! I have three nephews, Jacob, Matthew and Andrew–they are all superstar athletes and smart cookies and I’m so proud to be their aunt! I also have a new baby niece, Ashlynn (with two N’s after our mom, Lynn). Ashlynn turns 1 in December–I can’t believe it’s already been a year! They grow up so fast! She’s just starting to walk and recently learned how to blow kisses.

They all live in Bend, Oregon–I can’t wait to see them when we go home this Christmas! (We’re doing Christmas here this year with Neal’ family and then heading there on the 27th for several days!)

How did you and Neal handle splitting finances when you got married?

Everyone is SO different in this, and it’s really a personal preference. I think you have to find the right balance that works for you. For us personally, we keep things separate and always have. It’s just easier for us that way! Since we’ve lived together for a few years now, it didn’t really seem necessary to mix everything up and do anything different for the sake of being married. We each pay different bills and it evens out! The Everygirl has a really good article on 5 ways to manage money as a couple, too!

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I think the married $$ thing is so interesting because I feel like views on this and what people are doing have significantly changed with our generation. I don’t know why I feel so nosey about it. My husband & I just hit the 2 year mark and still have absolutely everything completely separate. I pay all utilities/bills and buy groceries/household supplies and we even out the mortgage difference which he pays monthly (hello VENMO!). We both make roughly the same amount of money, so I guess it wouldn’t be a big deal to combine, but there’s something about each feeling like we have our “own” money that works for us too! I don’t have to justify my purchases to him and vice versa as long as we both cover what we have mutually agreed to add to our 401k’s and joint savings account. It just doesn’t seem like a big deal to alternate paying for meals out, etc. I imagine kids will change things – would love to hear how others do this too 🙂

Haha everyone is so different! I totally agree, I’m sure it’ll change with kids, but for now, like, why fix something that isn’t broken!? Same! Haha I always venmo him for my part of the mortgage 😛 I mean, at the end of the day, even when we alternate paying for things, it’s still “our” money, it just doesn’t come out of a joint bank account, you know?

Love your transparency in this post and gorgeous photos as well! (ps, if you go to Bend and haven’t been to 10 Barrel Brewing…do it! And if you go to Sisters, make sure to check out Cascade Street Distiller, their tasting room is right on the main drag (we got married at their event barn and the marionberry vodka (wild roots is their partner) is AMAZING.

Yes! My cousin actually manages 10 Barrel! They’re awesome!! Have you been to Crux? That’s one of my favorite spots! My mom’s best friend lives in Sisters, it’s the cutest town! We’ll definitely have to check out Cascade Street Distiller! Such an awesome spot to get married!!

No way!! Such a small world. I need to check out Crux next time we’re up at Black Butte/in the area!!! If you go to CSD, be warned that their event barn and the tasting room/store are totally different venues so make sure to go to the one “downtown” ha. Enjoy your trip and happy holidays!